We will be holding a twitter chat on the EHIC incentive on 1 October from 2pm - please join us using the hashtag #NHSehic. You can also tweet to @nhscostrecovery.
The UK paid out approximately £750m to other European Economic Area (EEA) member states (plus Switzerland) for the costs of healthcare they provided to UK citizens in 2013/14.
In return, we invoiced other member states just £50m for healthcare provided by the NHS to their citizens here in the UK. Clearly, we in the NHS need to get better at doing this.
A new financial incentive to encourage and support NHS trusts and foundation trusts to identify patients visiting from other EEA countries and record their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) information was announced by the Secretary of State for Health in June.
The EHIC incentive scheme for NHS providers will come into effect on 1 October 2014. From this date, in addition to the payments trusts receive from commissioners when treating an 'insured' EEA patient, an extra 25% will be paid directly to them when the treatment episode is reported. Payments will be made quarterly, the first being at the end of December 2014.
If you have any questions, join in the conversation during our EHIC incentive twitter chat or leave a comment on this page.
By ensuring that trusts are able to identify ‘insured’ EEA patients, obtain their EHIC details and report these to our partners at the Department of Work and Pensions’ Overseas Healthcare Team, trusts will be able to benefit from this new incentive. The additional income they receive will enable them to invest in even more efficient chargeable patient cost recovery systems and processes.
If you would like any more information, please email nhscostrecovery@dh.gsi.gov.uk.
3 comments
Comment by Mark Liversedge posted on
Curious to know how much of that 750m paid out came from the public purse.
Comment by Sue Ogden posted on
Hi
So does this apply to EEA patients who live and work in the UK? The dramatic increase in the number of EEA nationals moving to the UK recently to work is putting a massive strain on the NHS. Can we claim for these individuals too who, for example, may only of contributed one month's worth of tax before getting free infertility treatment!
Comment by Liz Edmunds posted on
One problem (of several) is that many patients from the EEA do not possess an EHIC in the first place, or even know what one is. Unlike the UK, most EEA countries require their national to have first made contributions in their own country in order to have an entitlement to an EHIC. There is also a misapprehension that an EHIC covers a person for all and any treatment, including elective care - this is not so. And the "extra 25%" will be paid by.............?